Town have taken 27-year-old Canadian midfielder Sandro Grande on a ten-day trial. Grande currently plays with the Montreal Impact in the North American A-League but previously spent time with Brescia in Italy's Serie A.

Grande will join up with the squad today and the club are seeking international clearance so he can play for the reserves against West Ham at Dagenham and Redbridge next Wednesday.

Recommended by Canada boss Frank Yallop, Grande has played twice for the senior Canada side, both caps coming in the recent World Cup qualifying campaign.

His seven-year stint in Italy came after his first spell with Montreal. He initially played with Serie C side Frosinone, before switching to Brescia in the 2001/02 season, the Serie A club loaning him back to his old side.

His contract with Brescia was eventually cancelled after they failed to keep to their contractual obligations and Grande joined Potenza and then Albalonga before moving back to North America in 2003. The Impact celebrated their second ever A-League championship in September.

Boss Joe Royle confirmed that Grande will be with the club for a short spell: "The lad's agent approached us and asked if we would take the player on trial.

"Jason [De Vos] knows him from playing for Canada and he will be with us for a week or so."

Meanwhile, Town's attempt to sign 17-year-old Canadian international winger Jaime Peters may be complicated by passport and visa issues.

The youngster's lack of first team football could hold-up any move, with Commonwealth visas only available to players who have played 70% of first team games for their previous clubs over the last two years. His age may also count against him and the Blues or any of the other clubs seeking his signature may not be able to sign him until he is 18 next May.

Town have been in talks with the winger who had a trial in the summer but also had similar spells with Derby, Millwall and Manchester United.

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